Which name use for AOS forms and all else?

[RK_and_Inday 10]

Dear VJ members,

Desire to use maiden name as new middle name, taking my U.S. citizen husband's name as new family name. Maiden name (first, middle, last) : Inday G. Ta____, Husband's family name To____. Specifically, want to use as my married name: Inday Ta____ To____.

So (1) What name (first, middle, last) do I use for AOS forms (EAD, AP, etcetera)?

(2) Are there any problems with just assumming desired name and starting to use Inday Ta___ To____ on a regular/everday basis and for legal documents (e.g. ID card, driver's license) here in the U.S. or will there be potential conflicts?

Please share with me your knowledge and personal experience of proofs for the answers to these questions. Thank you.

Edited March 26, 2012 by RK_and_Inday

[YuAndDan 153]

This is what my wife did, not a problem.

[KKJJ 16]

thats what I did too, to all my legal documents

Edited March 26, 2012 by meandjulz

[Caryh 5,206]

You should be using your legal name. In some states you change your name legally in the marriage license application. After you're married, what you enter there becomes your new legal name. Some states have a form to fill out after marriage. Some you just start using it. Different states have different methods of having your name changed after marriage. Find out what your state requires and follow that method.

The Philippines will only recognize certain forms of your new married name.

Traditional Philippines name was FirstName MothersLastName FathersLastName

Traditional Philippines name changes to FirstName FathersLastName HusbandsLastName

There's a few other options the Philippines government will allow your name to be, but that is the most traditional change. Keeping you before marriage name is also acceptable to the Philippines government. Not following one of their allowed methods will cause problems when you deal with the Philippines government, like in renewing your passport or changing it to your new married name.

1 So to conclude, you can't just assume any new name, you need to use your legal name. Commonly a woman changes her name when she gets married, although here they can change it to anything they want, and so can the husband.

2 You'll cause all kinds of problems using a name you're not legally entitled to. Do it right the first time and avoid trouble later.

[inlababo 1]

Dear VJ members,

Desire to use maiden name as new middle name, taking my U.S. citizen husband's name as new family name. Maiden name (first, middle, last) : Inday G. Ta____, Husband's family name To____. Specifically, want to use as my married name: Inday Ta____ To____.

So (1) What name (first, middle, last) do I use for AOS forms (EAD, AP, etcetera)?

(2) Are there any problems with just assumming desired name and starting to use Inday Ta___ To____ on a regular/everday basis and for legal documents (e.g. ID card, driver's license) here in the U.S. or will there be potential conflicts?

Please share with me your knowledge and personal experience of proofs for the answers to these questions. Thank you.

I did the same but i did not have any problems at all, good luck to both of us.

[RK_and_Inday 10]

@YuAndDan, meandjuiz, inlabo--Thank you for your responses indicating no problems. I had done a search here on VJ and saw a few folks that ran into problems in 2011.

@Caryh--Yes, the confusing part is: (1) as you say "here, they [the woman] can change the name to anything she wants" and (2) Yes, I want to do "Traditional Philippines name changes of FirstName FathersLastName HusbandsLastName." but (3) In the state we were married in, the maiden name is filled out in the marriage license application that is to say "the current legal name, never the intended new name" and there is no form to fill out after marriage and are advised that, if indending anything other thant the (U.S.) tradition of bride taking groom's last name then "check with each agency for its requirments to accomplish that...to assume the new last name, work with each agency to chage its record of your name." Thank you for your comments which are appreciated.

@all--still interested in hearing of your experiences and, if you personally did encounter problems with traditional Philippine name change, then how you managed. Thank you all!

[KKJJ 16]

I didn't encounter any problems at all. I am lucky that most government staff I went to was aware that we have different culture and tradition. I went to Social Security office last year and filled out forms for a name change since I got married and used FirstName Father'sLastName Husband'sLastname and the clerk confirmed it by asking. Same with the bank and other billing statements. They are aware that I am a filipino and of course have a different tradition My AOS forms and Notices are all under FirstName Father'sLastname Husband'sLastName no problem at all.

[Matt & Bing 56]

We completed our AOS forms using my wife's maiden name as her middle name but the immigration officer at our interview would not allow that. He said we would have to legally change it which we chose not to do. The green card was issued with her at birth middle name.

[Caryh 5,206]

We completed our AOS forms using my wife's maiden name as her middle name but the immigration officer at our interview would not allow that. He said we would have to legally change it which we chose not to do. The green card was issued with her at birth middle name.

And thats where the problem arises when a state doesn't make the name change formal and leaves it to the bride to try and convince everyone she has the right to change her name at marriage. Maybe you state has a simple inexpensive way to change your name in the courts? My state provided the option when applying for the marriage certificate. The Social Security administration says you need proof that you have the right to change your name. Such as an official document showing both the old and new names. Going to the local SS office with the certified marriage certificate and your ID might work in a state that leaves everything up to you to do though. You just can't get a new one unless you get it before the I-94 expires or you have at least the EAD. If you can change it there, you have a document from the federal government proving its your legal name now.

[RK_and_Inday 10]

@Matt and Bing--Thanks for your response which helps re: AOS. Read several other accounts here on VJ where forms filled out as per firstname maidenname-as-middle-name husbandlastname and immigration officer would not allow come interivew time.

@Caryh--Thank you for continuing comments and especially in regards to SS card. Had delays getting SS card prior to marriage and now want to change card to married name with former maiden name as middle name but also I-94 is expired, too. So what documents, other than EAD, would be considered "official" enough to show old and new name? Hoping certified marriage certificate in my case will be enough. However, might be worth looking into legal name change process, too.

[Caryh 5,206]

@Caryh--Thank you for continuing comments and especially in regards to SS card. Had delays getting SS card prior to marriage and now want to change card to married name with former maiden name as middle name but also I-94 is expired, too. So what documents, other than EAD, would be considered "official" enough to show old and new name? Hoping certified marriage certificate in my case will be enough. However, might be worth looking into legal name change process, too.

Did you get your SS number before the the first 90 days of arrival was over? If you did, bring your passport and certified marriage certificate to change your name to a local SS office. They should now about the local custom of just changing your ID's to your desired married name. You can't apply for your SS card if you missed that first 90 days until you can legally work as in having your EAD or Green card. Its a little known option, but the K1 visa is a valid work visa during those first 90 days, which is why you can get the SS card during that time. You cannot apply for an original SSN unless you're legal to work. But you should be able to change your name for the card you already have.

[Matt & Bing 56]

And thats where the problem arises when a state doesn't make the name change formal and leaves it to the bride to try and convince everyone she has the right to change her name at marriage. Maybe you state has a simple inexpensive way to change your name in the courts? My state provided the option when applying for the marriage certificate. The Social Security administration says you need proof that you have the right to change your name. Such as an official document showing both the old and new names. Going to the local SS office with the certified marriage certificate and your ID might work in a state that leaves everything up to you to do though. You just can't get a new one unless you get it before the I-94 expires or you have at least the EAD. If you can change it there, you have a document from the federal government proving its your legal name now.

We live in Michigan. At marriage you have 3 choices for the brides name: No chnage, change last name to husband's or change last name to hypenated both last names (but can't change middle name). Yes its relatively easy to change through the court but we were tired of dealing with government entities after all the K-1 work, getting a SS number and driver's license and said to hell with it.

[Caryh 5,206]

We live in Michigan. At marriage you have 3 choices for the brides name: No chnage, change last name to husband's or change last name to hypenated both last names (but can't change middle name). Yes its relatively easy to change through the court but we were tired of dealing with government entities after all the K-1 work, getting a SS number and driver's license and said to hell with it.

At least keeping the maiden name is a valid name per the Philippine government. They won't allow a passport to be issued with the other versions of the name. Which would leave her with three different valid names when traveling internationally. What a mess that would be. In Minnesota, you can change both the husband's and wife's name to anything you want and its documented right on the marriage certificate. Which includes both names before marriage and then the line "the names of the parties after their marriage, shall be and has both our names there. Makes it pretty clear, easy and accommodating to any cultural norm.

[RK_and_Inday 10]

Did you get your SS number before the the first 90 days of arrival was over? If you did, bring your passport and certified marriage certificate to change your name to a local SS office. They should now about the local custom of just changing your ID's to your desired married name. You can't apply for your SS card if you missed that first 90 days until you can legally work as in having your EAD or Green card. Its a little known option, but the K1 visa is a valid work visa during those first 90 days, which is why you can get the SS card during that time. You cannot apply for an original SSN unless you're legal to work. But you should be able to change your name for the card you already have.

Yes, although SS number receipt somewhat delayed, still did get before first 90 days arrival finished. Yes, trying to get back to SS office, hoping won't encounter same uncooperative official as before (For entire story, see http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/343313-problems-applying-for-ssn-k1-visa-holder/). Hoping and praying will know about local custom of just changing ID to desired married name!

[Caryh 5,206]

Yes, although SS number receipt somewhat delayed, still did get before first 90 days arrival finished. Yes, trying to get back to SS office, hoping won't encounter same uncooperative official as before (For entire story, see http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/343313-problems-applying-for-ssn-k1-visa-holder/). Hoping and praying will know about local custom of just changing ID to desired married name!

Sounds like your best chance of getting your name legally established correctly there so you can use it in adjusting status. We had a very nice person at the local SS office. I hope you get a good one to. Sounds like you'd be best served going to the larger city office, and not the small two person office. Its frustrating when an official of a business or government doesn't know their job. It happens everywhere, even the Philippines. All you can do is keep trying until you get the one that does know what they're doing. Good luck.